National Republican., 1887-02-03
Hope and Hash.

Hope and Hash.
The time is coming, with swift step,
when our people will realize that there is
one question of paramount Importance to
all the other interests of the hour, a ques-
tion whose colossal influence overshadows
every other circumstance, and around which
all things else Of national moment cluster
like pigmies. 1t is the question Of indi-
vidual economy. The American wastes
enough to feed the German, the German
enough to feed the Frenchman, and the
Frenehman enough to feed the Chinaman.
What tremendous advantage this condi-
tion OF things makes possible for the Amer
ican. The fact that he is able to waste
twice as much as is necessary to the daily
support of the Frenchman, and once as
much as is necessary to satisfy the German,
and still lives better than either Of them,
shows where he could place himself
in ten years II he would adopt
q system Of thorough economy in his daily
life. On the labor platform we find the
tongue of eloquence lashing itself into wild
fury over the grasping tendencies OF monop-
olies and appealing to the world for sym
pathy In its efforts to ameliorate the con-
dition of the toilers, but very seldom is
word uttered upon the subject of economy,
is connected with the well-belng of the
laboring classes than all the other influences
combined. An American artisan, who re-
ceivss three times as much as foreign
artisan, lives twice as well, aud wastes
snnngh IN frIrnish tho latter with the nooes
saries Of life, is in position to become in
dependent In fifteen or twenty years, pro-
vided health and work held out, II he will
only study the subject OF economy and
apply its teachings to his everyday life and
that of his family.
Among the sixty millions Of our people
the number who are circumstanced so that
economy becomes unimportant to them is
a very small fraction. To the great majority
the question is very important, aud care.
full consideration Of 1t will benefit the
masses In the present and exercise whole
some influence on generations to come.
In the vast amount of valuable statistics
which have been secured by the govern
ment through the United States consular
corps are lessons concerning labor, wages,
and cost Of living, which, If properly stud
led by our people, would bear golden fruit.
In them hundred stories are told OF men
working for one.tbird Of the wages received
In this country. To be sure, 1t is a hard
fight for existence, but by strict economy
they manage to stand even with the world
at the end Of the year, well clothed, and In
fair physical health. This being the case, it
seems but reasonable that our laborers, who
receive twice and sometimes thrice the
amount Of wages, ought, by careful ex
penditure of funds, to save at least one
third Of their annual incomes.
1t has been seriously argued that the
American requires more and better food
than the European. This is an error. He
does not require it in a physical sense, but
from habit. What gives to large number
Of the European laborers the proverbial
stolid, dissatisfied look is not the actual
want Of food, but the want OF hope, fol
there is as much nourishment in hope as In
hash. With their meager income they can
simply supply daily necessities. They can
not hope for an independent future, a home,
and comfortable freside. This every
American wage-earner hopes for, and the
consciousness Of this possibility gives him
an independent air and hopefulness un,
known to his comrades In the old world
and 1t is to the honor aud glory Of our pro
tective system that such possibility exists
it has been and is constantly argued that
the cost of living is so much greater In this
al hut Ia "a
higher wages only covers the difference.
This was once true, but through the mar.
velous development OF our agricultural
and manufacturing interests and the in
creased transportation facilities food prices
have become lower here than abroad. TIC
sustain this assertion we produce here a
carefully prepared list of the necessities Of
life In continental town
Wheat -four, IS to s. per hundred
pounds; corn meal, 5! to cents per pound
lice, S to 10 cents per pound; wheat bread
10 to IL cents per pound; granulated white
sugar, l2 cents; loaf sugar, IL to Is cents;
| oysters, % cents per dozen, "open them
yourself.n Eggs, rs to 30 cents per dozen;
table butter, 30 to 40 cents per pound;
roasts of beef, II 10 % cents per pound;
pork, lG to 20 cents per pound; liver, 2j
cents per pound; ham, 25 TO 80 cents per
pound; mutton, 10 to 22 cents per pound;
veal, 20 TO 20 cents per pound fresh fish,
90 to 20 cents per pound lard, lS cents;
chicken, IS to 20 cents per pound; turkey,
% TO % cents per pound; crackers, % cents
per pound; pepper, 2S cents; vinegar, s
cents per quart potatoes, @ cents per five
quarts; coffee, 3S to 40 cents per pound;
burned coffee, so cents; dried prunes, 10
cents per pound; carrots, 10 cents per
pound; Swiss cheese, 80 cents per pounds
milk, cents per quartz soap, 10 cents per
pound; hard coal s. per ton; soft coal,
$3.50 to s4 per ton; cotton sheetlngs,
bleached, 2T inches wide, 30 to 40 cents per
meter calico, to l2 cents per meter; one
meter being equal to l,O73G yard.
The free trader may desire to use these